Alleged 'El Chapo' high-level henchman arrested

Andrew V. Pestano

The Mexican navy, members of which are seen here during a graduation ceremony, on Monday said it recently captured Rey David Santiago, the leader of drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's Sinaloa Cartel in the states of Baja California and Sinaloa, during a routine tour in the town of Ejido San Jose de Guanajuato. Photo courtesy of Mexican navy

The Mexican navy on Monday said it recently captured Rey David Santiago, the alleged leader of drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's Sinaloa cartel in the states of Baja California and Sinaloa.

Santiago was captured in Sinaloa's town of Ejido San Jose de Guanajuato on Friday in possession of a handgun and various fake forms of identification, the Mexican navy said in a statement.

"The arrest occurred when elements of the Navy of Mexico which were performing a tour of deterrence on the Mazatlan-Culiacan road observed a gray vehicle whose crew noticed the presence of the infantry marines and tried to flee," the Mexican navy wrote.

The Mexican marines chased the fleeing suspects and eventually were able to inspect the vehicle, in which marines found a "9mm pistol exclusive for use of the armed forces ... and various apocryphal IDs certifying a false identity."

Santiago was arrested and taken to the Sinaloa Attorney General's Office. He serves as the "alleged head of a criminal group square operating in the states of Sinaloa and Baja California Sur and focus on the purchase and distribution of drugs [methamphetamine]," the Mexican navy added.

An investigation has been launched and formal criminal charges have not yet been announced. Guzman's Sinaloa Cartel is credited with dominating the illegal drug market in nearly the entire United States.